6 Tips & Solutions To Manage Basement Waterproofing Problems
All of your successful basement finishing work could be destroyed by a muddy, cold, or flooded basement. With the floors destroyed, the drywall waterlogged, and the insulation damaged, you’re looking at hundreeeeeeeds, and maybe even thousands, of dollars in repairs.
However, if you own a more than 30-year-old home, you should know how to avoid a wet basement waterproofing Toronto. Suppose your home does not adequately protect against water leakage. In that case, you might face a whole slew of issues, including musty mould, mildew, rust, foul odours, damage to personal possessions and furniture, and a drop in home value.
Another essential solution is repairing a foundation to avoid water leakage into your basement. Suppose there are cracks in the foundation of your home. In that case, water can seep into the basement, causing significant damage to your walls and floors. Thus, it’s crucial to address any foundation issues before proceeding with waterproofing your basement. Here are some of the basement waterproofing methods you can do to keep water out of your basement:
1. Find out a water source:
Cement or other solid-surface floors are standard in basements. It should help you find out where those streams and puddles of water came from. Areas around windows and pipes or other water lines entering your home are likely culprits. Cracking at the bottom of the walls is also another common cause. Take a good look.
2. Waterproof interior basement walls:
The development of condensation on basement walls can be avoided by adding sealant to the walls. Concrete coatings, silicate-based concrete sealers, waterproofing paint, or plastic sheets or panels may all include in waterproof basement walls. Additionally, waterproof the exterior walls of the basement to plug gaps in the foundation, though this is an existing Waterproofing basement that requires excavating within the structure.
3. Fix your home’s window leaks:
Water can collect in window wells significantly if a drainage system does not develop when your home design. It’s possible that the water would end up in your basement. Glass drainage systems can be more costly to implement after construction; however, there are ways to fix window problems. One option is to excavate a two-foot-deep trench below your window and cover it with dirt. Installing a window well cover, which will help guide water away from your windows, is another option. You would also want to re-caulk your windows.
4. Keep bare walls secure:
If your basement walls are unpainted — that is, whether they are made of cement or cinder block — you might want to consider covering them with waterproof paint. A seam sealer mixes into waterproof paint, and when correctly applied, it produces an impervious surface. While waterproof paint is an excellent option for bare walls, it cannot use over permanent paint. Before installing the waterproof paint, you must first remove any existing paint.
5. Fix Leaking Concrete Floor Slab:
Water leaks in the basement can also come up through the floor. Concrete floor slabs, like the majority of the basement, are likely to crack and leakage. Tree roots may work beneath the slab, forcing it up and breaking it.
Groundwater will seep into your concrete floor slab through cracks. Widen and deepen the damage to around 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch wide and deep to solve this problem. Ensure that the prepared crack's edges do not form a “V” shape; otherwise, the coating will not apply correctly. Instead, to make a tomahawk design, position the chip sides straight down or, easier still, outwards at the foot.
Use an elastic concrete sealant to fill the gap. The type of elastomeric sealant you could use for windows or bathroom sinks is not the same as silicone or painter’s caulk. Elastomeric sealant adheres well to concrete foundations and can withstand temperatures ranging from -30 to 100 ° F.
6. Stop any more water damage:
It can be as easy as reconsidering your landscaping and relocating plants and shrubs that require regular watering away from the base of your house. Look for other ways that water could be causing harm to your foundation and basement walls. Check your gutters or other drainage systems, for example, to ensure that the water isn’t collecting around your base.
If all else fails and you can’t find a water source, you will need to hire a professional to create indoor and outdoor drainage systems. For the living people of Toronto, AquaTech Basement Waterproofing is a one-stop solution that provides the best waterproofing system for the basement. Through proven crack repair techniques, AquaTech has extensive experience repairing basement and foundation concrete cracks.
Conclusion:
There’s no reason you can’t waterproof your basement with a bit of time, thinking, and money if you’re doing it yourself or employing a professional. It’s essential to think about using your lower level as a living space for yourself or a landlord.
Photography courtesy of AquaTech Basement Waterproofing
- by Matt Watts
